Worth the replay?

1. #1

   JetsatBlackhawks

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   63/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback3/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63

2. #2

   IslandersatSabres

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   C+

   49/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings17/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late12/15

   Back-and-forth7/10

   Drama 66 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 49

3. #3

   HurricanesatBlue Jackets

   NHL· ESPN+/HuluDown to the wire

   C

   44/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late6/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 58 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 44

4. #4

   CanadiensatLightning

   NHL· ESPN+

   C

   40/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension23/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback4/20

   Decided late7/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 54 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 40

5. #5

   FlyersatCapitals

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   34/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension19/30

   Swings19/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 45 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 34

6. #6

   StarsatBruins

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   23/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension5/30

   Swings20/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 31 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 23

7. #7

   SenatorsatPanthers

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   12/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 16 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 12

8. #8

   DevilsatRangers

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   8/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback1/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 11 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 8

9. #9

   KrakenatOilers

   NHL· ESPN+One-sided

   D

   8/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension4/30

   Swings7/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 10 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 8

10. #10

    Red WingsatPenguins

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    7/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension1/30

    Swings9/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 9 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 7

Ranked from each game's win probability as it was played (ESPN's for football and basketball; ours, from the goals, for hockey): how in doubt it was near the end, how far the winner came back from, how late it was decided, how big its momentum swings were and how often a team erased a deficit, with a bonus for overtime. That drama is then weighted by how good a matchup it was going in (its pre-game Watchability score), so a thriller between top teams ranks above an equally wild game between minor ones.